The Boomers legend helping the Brisbane Lions build an AFL dynasty

Smyth – a four-time Olympian and a six-time NBL champion as a player and coach – has been a consultant at the Brisbane Lions since 2019.

He had previously been working locally in Adelaide following an illustrious hoops career, but a call from former Port Adelaide and Sydney GM Rob Snowdon prompted him to jump into the AFL world.

Snowdon has a close connection with Lions coach Chris Fagan – who at the time was in need for a coaching mentor to bounce ideas off.

Smyth’s name came to mind, hence the call to see if he would be interested in helping Fagan out in a consultant role.

It started with spending three days in Brisbane to understand the franchise and quickly shifted to a week and then every third week.

Now Smyth is part of the furniture at Lions, with the Boomers great flying from Adelaide to Brisbane every fortnight and spending a week with the AFL powerhouse.

He even stays at the coach’s house – described by Lions football boss Danny Daly as the man that “keeps Fages sane”.

For Smyth – who has achieved everything in basketball – he feels blessed to play a small role with the back-to-back AFL champions.

“Brisbane is a big rugby league town and I was originally told Chris needed a coaching mate and any chance you could help him,” Smyth recalled.

“I was happy to come up. I’d meet Fages once when I was coaching in the NBL and I’d spent a bit of time with some of the AFL coaches.

“I really liked Fages as a bloke – I just thought he was a really good fella.

“Initially I had some accommodation at a Quest near the Gabba, but then Fages said just come and stay with me.

“Fages and his wife have been very good to me.”

Smyth’s role with Brisbane is broad.

On the surface he is a mentor and a sounding board for the Lions players and coaching staff.

Smyth is also happy to share insights on different coaching philosophies, but humbly concedes “I learn more from the Lions than they learn from me”.

Talk to the Brisbane players and staff though and they’ll tell you a different story.

Star Lions forward Charlie Cameron recently credited Smyth for helping him change his mindset heading into September after a season of struggles.

Cameron went goalless in 10 of his 25 games to convert just 32 majors for the year, but says everything changed after speaking with the basketball great turned Brisbane consultant.

Smyth revealed he spoke to the Lions grand final hero about emulating the resilience of San Antonio Spurs’ NBA star Tim Duncan – a player who overcame form slumps to become a five-time champion and Hall of Famer.

“Charlie was having a rough time during the season and he wasn’t playing as well as he wanted,” Smyth said about Cameron, who went on to kick three goals in Brisbane’s dominant grand final win over Geelong.

“He approached me for a chat and I relayed a story about Tim Duncan at the Spurs.

“Tim went through a form slump, but found a way to get out the other side.”

Smyth has seen it all throughout his own Hall of Fame career in basketball.

He says the key to success at any level in professional sport is finding a way to deal with the pressure and expectation.

Then it’s about parking your ego for the betterment of the team.

Smyth says the Lions possess these traits in spades and it’s why they’ve won five AFL premierships since 2001.

“There are no egos in this Brisbane team,” he said.

“I’ve seen enough organisations where one ego gets in the room and it spoils everything, but there just aren’t any egos at the Lions.

“The playing group is exceptional.”

Smyth says Brisbane’s winning culture comes from the top via coach Fagan and his sibling-like relationship with Lions football boss Danny Daly.

The 64-year-old mentor shares a special relationship with Daly.

“They are like brothers – they’ll challenge each other, but they are also both footy geniuses,” Smyth said.

“It’s rare that you get two guys in the same organisation who are geniuses and they just bounce off each other really well.

“Fages builds his program on brotherhood and the Lions are now a destination club. It has gone from tatters nine years ago to a destination club.

“Fages’ calmness and knowledge has had a big impact on a lot of people, not just the players, but the whole organisation.”

Smyth has dedicated his entire life to sport, so he feels grateful to continue his “wonderful journey” with such a successful club like the Lions.

“It has been unbelievable,” he said.

“Sport has been amazing for me and now to cross over into AFL after basketball, I just feel blessed. Normally when you are finished you are done, but I’ve been able to stay in sport for 50 years at the elite level.

“I’m a lucky man.”